Device for handling granular material



Filed Feb. 2, 1951 M. c. ADDICKS 2,646,965

DEVICE FOR HANDLING GRANULAR MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 8, 1953 M. c@ADDICKS 2,646,965

DEVICE FOR HANDLING GRANULAR MATERIAL Filed Feb. 2, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet2 Q 1 1%) aAdawf x j W144i? A/ M y 3, 1953 M. c. ADDICKS 2,646,965

DEVICE FOR HANDLING GRANULAR MATERIAL Filed Feb. 2, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheets July 28, 1953 M. c. ADDICKS 2,646,965

DEVICE FOR HANDLING GRANULAR MATERIAL Filed Feb. 2, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet4 July 28, 1953 M. c. ADDICKS 2,646,965 DEVICE FOR HANDLING GRANULARMATERIAL Filed Feb. 2, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 28, 195

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR HANDLING GRANULAR MATERIAL 10Claims.

My invention relates generally to machines for handling granular or bulkmaterial and more specifically to improved mechanisms for unloadinggranular material from freight cars and the like.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a machine forremoving bulk material from freight or box cars and the like which, whenapplied to a loaded car, is entirely automatic in its operation inremoving all but a minimum quantity of the material from the car.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of a carunloading machine of the type set forth which may be quickly and easilychanged from fully automatic operation to manually controlledsemi-automatic operation for the purpose of unloading the relativelysmall quantity of material remaining in the car after automaticunloading thereof is completed.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an unloading machineof the above type which precludes the necessity of an operators presencewithin the car during the greater part of the unloading operation,thereby avoiding exposure of the operator to the dust stirred up in thecar during the unloading thereof.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a grain shovelingmachine as set forth having a traveling shovel or scoop, the extent oftravel of which may be automatically varied during the unloadingoperation so that the scoop is caused to travel progressively furtheraway from the point of discharge with each successive shovelingoperation.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel control meanswhereby the amount of travel of the shovel may be varied by the operatorstationed exterior of the car or bin.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of an automaticshoveling machine comprising winding drums and a drag or scoop connectedto the drums by flexible cables for reciprocatory material shoveling andreturn movements, in which novel means is provided for accuratelymaintaining the extent of reciprocatory travel of the scoop or shovelirrespective of the manner in which the cables wind upon or unwind fromtheir respective winding drums.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of noveldriving connections for the cable winding drums above mentioned wherebyto prevent backlash in the cable being unwound. For this purpose, Iprovide novel driving connections for the winding drums which includetransfer coupling means which urge the drums in a cable windingdirection of rotation but which permit cable unwinding rotation of saiddrums.

Heretofore, in car unloading or shoveling machines where a scoop orshovel is operated by a drag line utilizing a tail sheave secured to oneend of the bin or car, difiiculty has been experienced when it has beennecessary to move said tail sheave adjustably toward or away from thewinding drums of the shoveling machine by reason of the fact thatcontrol switches for the winding drums would have to be manually movedor adjusted to compensate for variations in distance of shovel travel,or the cable must be manually lengthened or shortened according to theposition of the tail sheave without disturbing the relative positions ofthe winding drums and control switches therefor. These operationsconsume valuable time and perfect adjustment is not always possible.Another object of my invention is, therefore, the provision of ashovelingmachine utilizing a tail sheave in which said tail sheave maybe readily moved with respect to the winding drums without loss of timeand without the necessity of adjustment of associated parts.Such'movement of the tail sheave will simply cause added cable to bedrawn from the drum which is used to pull the shovel in the direction ofits return movement toward the tail sheave.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a shovelingmachine as set forth which is relatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture and install, which is highly efficient in operation, andwhich is rugged in construction and durable in use.

Other highly important objects and advantages of my invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed specification, appendedclaims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the invention, and in whichlike characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in plan illustrating a preferredembodiment of my improved shoveling machine and its use in unloading afreight car or the like;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig.1; v

Fig. 3 is a view in plan of my novel shoveling machine, some parts beingremoved;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the structure of Fig. 3, someparts being removed, some parts being broken away, and some parts shownin section;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially on the line5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially on the line6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a portion of Fig. 5,illustrating the operation of the trip switch operating lever of myinvention;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view partly in front elevation and partly insection taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3 and illustrating apreferred form of control mechanism of my invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of a modified form ofcontrol device adapted to be used in connection with a portion of thecontrol mechanism of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in section taken substantially on the lineII8 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram.

Referring with greater detail to the drawings and particularly to Figs.1 and 2, the numeral I indicates a suitable building such as a grainelevator or the like having a receiving platform 2 adjacent a pair oftracks upon which moves and is adapted to rest a conventional box car orthe like 3. The receiving platform 2 is conventional in nature and isadapted to receive granular material such as grain 01' the like from thecar 3 as the grain is shoveled or otherwise moved through the customaryopening 4 in the side of the car 3 and at its central portion. Mountedon the building I and carried by suitable brackets or the like 5 is asupporting structure or frame 6 having mechanism therein for impartingreciprocatory grain shoveling and return movements to a scoop or shovel1 which is adapted to be moved between one end portion of the car 3 andthe intermediate door opening 4 thereof. The shovel I is of the typecommonly used to move grain or like bulk material fromone part of a roomsuch as a grain bin to another, or as shown, unloading grain or likematerial from a box car. The scoop is connected to the shoveling machinefor movements in a car unloading direction by a flexible cable 8 and tothe shoveling machine for return movements by a second cable 9 whichruns over a tail sheave shown diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2 andindicated at I8. The tail sheave is of the type commonly used for thispurpose and may be secured to either end portion of the box car in asuitable and well known manner. For the purpose of clarity, the cable 8will be hereinafter designated as the pull-forward cable and the cable 9as the return cable.

Inasmuch as the shoveling machine. mounted in the supporting structure 6is preferably mounted above the level of the door opening 4 of the boxcar 3, see Fig. 2, suitable pulleys for guiding the pull-forward cable 8and the return cable 3 are provided at convenient locations and suitablysecured in positions to properly guide said cables. One of the guidepulleys, indicated at II, is mounted closely above the level of thefloor of the car 3 while the pulley for the return cable 9 is mounted ata level above the pulley I I, by suitable means not shown, this secondpulley being indicated by I2.

The pull-forward cable 8 has its free end secured to a cable windingdrum I3 that is journalled on a power driven shaft I4 which is in turnjournalled in suitable bearings I5 in the supporting structure of theframe 3. Rotary movement is imparted to the shaft I4 by a prime moversuch as an electric motor I8 through conventional speed reductiongearing not shown but contained within a housing IT. The free end of thereturn cable 9 is secured to a second cable winding drum I8 which isalso journalled on the shaft I4 in axially spaced relationship to thewinding drum I3. The drums I3 and I8 are in the nature of spools havingradially outwardly projecting end flanges I9 and 28 and, as clearlyshown in Figs. 3 and 4, have relatively smooth cable-engaging surfaces2I over which the cables 8 and 9, respectively, are wound. As indicatedin Figs. 1 and 2, both the pull-forward cable 8 and the return cable 9are wound on their respective drums I3 and I8 in the same direction ofrotation for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

The drums I3 and I8 are each coupled to the drive shaft I4 by powertransmission mechanism comprising a low torque transfer coupling 22 anda releasable high torque transfer coupling 23.

The low torque transfer coupling of each drum comprises a centraltubular member 24 rigidly secured to the drive shaft I4 within anannular chamber 25 defined by the shaft I4 and the winding drum. Thetubular chamber 24 is provided with a plurality of longitudinallyextending Q'- axially outwardly projecting blades or vanes 26 whichterminate radially inwardly of an are defined by the radially inneredges of a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes or blades 2'!integrally formed with and projecting radially inwardly from theintermediate portion of each of the drums I3 and I8. The chamber 25 isat least partially filled with suitable liquid such as lubricating oilor hydraulic brake fluid which acts as a lubricant for the bearings I5in addition to providing a driving medium between the blades 26 of thesleeve 24 and the vanes 27 integral with the drums. Rotation of theshaft I4 being relatively slow, a low torque is imparted to the drums I3and I8 in a direction to wind the cables thereon. When the cable isdrawn from either of the drums I3 or I8, said drums rotate in adirection opposite that of the drive shaft I4 thereby causing a greaterspeed difierential between the unwinding drum and the drive shaft I4 andcausing a greater drag to be placed upon the unwinding drum. Thisarrangement prevents any overrunning of either of the drums in adirection to unwind the cable therefrom and consequent possible backlashor entanglement of the unwinding cable. In other words, both thepull-forward cable 8 and return cable 9 are always maintained underrelatively low tension during rotation of the drive shaft I4.

The high torque transfer coupling unit for each winding drum comprises apair of clutch elements 28 and 29 the former of which is keyed orotherwise secured to the drive shaft I4 for common rotation therewithand for axial sliding movements with respect thereto, and a clutchelement 29 rigidly secured to an axially extended portion 30 of one ofthe drums I3 and I8. The clutch elements 28 are each independently movedby shifter levers 3| and 32 pivotally mounted on the supportingstructure or frame 6, as indicated at 33 and 34, respectively. Theshifter levers 3| and 32 are preferably pneumatically controlled eachbeing connected at their free ends to one of a pair of guided pistonplungers 35 each of which is mounted for extending and retractingmovements in a fluid pressure cylinder 36 and biased by spring means 31in a direction to disengage the clutch elements 28 and 29. Air underpressure is supplied selectively to the cylinders 36 through conduits 38from a source of pressure, not shown, and control thereof is effected byconventional valves 39 operated by actuators the nature of solenoids 40'and 40'. The solenoid 40 controls the action of the clutch- 23associated with the forward pull drum |3 whereas the solenoid 40controls the action of the clutch 23 associated with the return drum l8When the novel shoveling machine is used for automatic unloading of afreight car or the like, the extent of rotary movement of the windingdrums l3 and |8 is controlled by the positioning of a pair of limitswitches 4| and 42 mounted in a casing or the like 43. The switches 4|and 42 are provided with operating arms 44 and 45, respectively, whichare adapted to be engaged by a tripping member 46 which hasscrewthreaded engagement with a lead screw or the like 4! journalled inopposite ends of the casing 43 and having a diametrically reduced outerend 48 which extends outwardly of the casing 43 and which is threaded toreceive clamping nuts 49 one each disposed on opposite sides of asprocket wheel or the like 50 slid-ably mounted on the shaft end 48. Thesprocket wheel 50 is adapted to be rotated by an endless link chainrunning thereover and a relatively large sprocket wheel 52 anchored tothe flange of the drum |3 by pins or the like 53. The switch 42 isslidably mounted on a mounting bar or plate 54 and clamped thereto bymeans of clamping screws" or the like 55, whereas thee-witch 4| ismounted for sliding movements on an elongated mounting plate or bar 55,see particularly Figs. darid '8; The switch 4| is provided with athreaded lug 51 which has threaded engagement with an adjust ing screw58 journalled in the opposite ends of the casing 43. With particularreference to Figs. 3 and 8, it will be seen that apr'ojected end of theadjusting screw 58 is coupled to a drive shaft 59 by means of a shaftcoupling 60, the drive shaft 59 projecting outwardly from a conventionalmotorized gear reducer 6| slidably mounted on the supporting structure 6and clamped in position by wing-nut-equipped clamping screws or the like62.

As illustrated in Fig. i, a pair of my'novel car shoveling machines maybe used to advantage to quickly unload bulk material from the'box car 3.As there shown, one of the shoveling ma chines is used to functionautomatically while the other thereof is used semi-automatically, thereturn cable 9 being disconnected from thelscoop l .and an operatormanually moving thescoou' toward one end of the car 3 for thefinalcleanup operation. During the automatic'unlo'ading period, it isdesirable to move the scoop orshovel 1 in relatively short operationalcycles or strokes and gradually lengthen said strokes toward the tailsheave H) at the end of the car lies the car becomes partially emptied.This gradual lengthening of the shovel stroke is accomplished throughthe movement of the limit switch. 4| in a direction from the right tothe left with respect to Fig. 8. Obviously, as the distance between theswitches 4| and 42 increases,- the tripping member 46 must travel agreater distance between the switches thereby causing the winding drumsto execute a greater number of turns between the operation of one switchby the operate ing member 46 and the operation of. the other switchthereby. The motorized speed reducer 6| which rotates the adjustingscrew 58 for the limit switch 4| may be controlled by any suitablemeans, not shown, or by manually operated switches, if desired.

Electrical control means is diagrammatically g. illustrated in Fig 11seccomprises the switches 4| and 42, the solenoids 40 and Air-and apparatusnow to be described. The solenoid 40 is interposed in an electricalcircuit which includes a pair of power leads 63 and 64 and a pair ofserially connected normally open relay operated switches 65 and 66.- Thesolenoid 40' is interposed in a circuit including a portion of the powerlead '63, a lead 61, and a portion of the power lead 64. -A pair ofnormally open serially connected relay operated switches 68 and '69 arealso interposed in the lead 6'1 on opposite sides of the solenoid 40".The switches '65 and 66 are adapted to be closed by energizationof arelay coil 10 contained in a circuit comprising a portion of the powerlead 63, a lead H which termimates in a contact 12 of 'the'switch 42which is normally connectedto a switch contact 13 there'- in by a switcharm 14, a lead 15 extending from the switch contact 13 to one side of amanually operated starting and reset switch 16, a lead extending fromthe other side '01 the reset switch 16 to the relay coil 10 and in whichis interposed a manually operated master switch" and a time delay relayoperated switch 19, and 'a lead 8| extending from the opposite side ofthe relay coil 10 to the power lead 64. The switch 19 is operated by atime delay relay 8| the winding of which is contained in a lead 82shunting the switch 19 and the relay coil 10. A holding circuit for therelay 10 comprises alead 83 one end of which is connected to the lead 75and the other of which is connected to the lead 1'! between the resetswitch 16 and the master switch 18, and a normally o en switch 84 closedby energization of the relay winding 10.

The normally open switches 68 and 69 CF01 energizing the solenoid 4B areclosed by energization of a relay winding 85 in a circuit including aportion of the power lead 64, a lead 86 extending therethrough from saidlead 64 and therefrom to a switch contact 87 of thesw'itch 4| andnormally connected to a cooperating switch contact 88 by a contact arm89, a lead 9-?! extending from the contact 38 to a contact 9| in theswitch 42 normally out of electrical engagement with a cooperatingswitch contact 92 and adapted to be connected therewith by a contact arm93 mounted for common movements with the contact arm 74, a lead asextending from the switch contact 92, a portion of the lead 7 i, and aportion of the power lead 63. A manually operated m'aster switch 95 isinterposed in the lead 94. A holding circuit for the relay coil 35includes a lead 95 extending from the lead 95 to the lead 94 and aholding switch 9'! interposed in said lead 96, said holding switch 91being closed responsive to energization of the relay coil 85. In orderthat the controls may be automatically reversed once the cycle ofautomatic operation has been initiated by closing of the starting andreset switch 16, a circuit is provided which shunts out the switch 76and which circuit comprises a lead 98 extending from the lead 15 to aswitch contact 99 that is in normal switch open relationship to acooperating switch contact 180 and adapted to be connected therewith bya switch arm lei mounted for common movements with the switch arm 89,and a lead I02 extending from the switch contact 100 to the lead 77between the reset switch it and the master control switch I8. Withfurther reference to Fig. 11, .it will be noted that coil springs I03and 04 bias theirrespective switch arms 93 and 7 spective switch arms 14and 89 toward switch closed positions.

Automatic shoveling operation When it is desired to use my shovelingmachine to automatically unload grain or the like from a freight car,the operator fastens the tail sheave ID to the interior of the car 3 inthe conventional manner and adjacent one end thereof. Assuming thatconstant rotation is being imparted to the drive shaft 14 by the motorIE and that the control switches 4| and 42 and the switch operatingelement 46 are initially located properly with respect to each otherwithin the casing 43, the operator manually closes the master contro1switches 78 and 95 and the starting and reset switch 76 thus completinga circuit between the power leads 63 and 64 and the time delay relaywinding Bl throughthe lead H, the switch contacts 12 and 13, the leadsT5, the starting and reset switch 16, lead it, the master control switch18, part of the lead Tl, the lead 82, and a portion of the lead Bil.Energization of the time delay relay Bl closes the switch '19 and causesthe relay ID to be energized whereby to close the switches 65 and 6B andenergizin the winding of solenoid so. As hereinbefore described,energization of the solenoid 4i) admits fluid under pressure to thecylinder 36 associated with the forward pull drum 13 so that thepiston-equipped plunger rod 35 and the lever 35 will be moved in adirection to cause the clutch elements 28 and 29 of the clutch 23associated with the forward pull drum 13 to be operatively engagedwhereby high torque rotary cable winding movement will be imparted tothe drum I3. This rotation will pull the scoop i forwardly in thedirection of the door opening 6 of the car 3 and a quantity of grainorlike material moved toward the opening 4 thereby. As above indicated,cable winding movement of the drum !3 will cause rotary movement of thelead screw 4] in a direction to move the switch operating member 45toward the operating lever d of the switch 42. This engagement willcause the contact arm '54 to move out of engagement with the contacts'52 and I3, and the contact arm 93 to move into operative engagementwith the contacts 9i and 92 whereby to de-energize the relay i6 andcomplete a circuit through the winding of relay 85 to energize the same.Energization of the relay 85 will cause the switches 68 and 89 to closeand complete a circuit from the power leads 83 and 64 through thesolenoid .48 to cause high torque coupling engagement of the return pulldrum l8. Obviously when the relay if} is de-energized, the switches 65and 66 are opened, de-energizing the solenoid 4s and disengaging the hih torque coupling associated with the forward pull drum 13. Cablewinding rotation of the return drum 18 moves the scoop 'l in a returndirection toward the tail sheave and causing the forward pull drum !3 tounwind against action of the low torque transfer coupling 22 until theswitch operating member 25 is moved under reverse rotation of the druml3 to a point where it engages the operating lever 44' of the switch 41.With reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the return cable 9 issecured to the rear side of the scoop i adjacent its upper edge portionand that the forward-pulling cable 8 is attached to the scoop 1 adjacentthe lower edge thereof. This arrangement permits the scoop to slide overthe material in the car on its return movement and to dig into thematerial during the forward unloading movement thereof. It shouldfurther be noted that when the switch operatin member 46 leaves theswitch 42 during the return movement of the shovel, the energizingcircuit for the relay is broken through the switch connections 9|, 92,and 93 by the spring I03. for the relay 85 has been set up through theswitch 91 so that the solenoid 40' will be energized until the operatingarm again reaches the switch 4!. When the shovel has reached itspredetermined limit of travel in a return direction, the switchoperating member 46 wil1 engage the switch operatin arm 44 to causedisconnecting of the contacts 31 and 88 by the contact arm 89 therebyde-energizing the relay 85 and the solenoid 40'. Substantiallysimultaneously, the contact arm llll engages the contacts 99 and I00 toenergize the time delay relay Bl. The relay 8| consumes sufiicient timebefore closing the switch 19 to permit scoop I to dig itself into thematerial in the car before the solenoid 43 is re-energized to cause thescoop again to be pulled forwardly toward the car door opening 4. Theoperating cycle is then repeated until that portion of the car traversedby the scoop l is substantially cleaned.

It should be borne in mind that during this operation, the motorizedgear reducer 61 is operated to cause the switch 4| to be very slowlymoved in a direction away from the switch 42 so that each succeedingreturn movement of the scoop l terminates in more closely spacedrelationship to the tail sheave Ill than did the preceding return travelof the scoop I. This is a feature of the invention which avoidsoverloading of the scoop I and consequent excessive strain on the cable8 and other working parts of the machine. It should also be noted thatinitially, the forward pull cable 8 and the return cable 9 are evenlywound upon their respective drums I3 and 18. My novel arrangement ofoperation of the mechanism for operating the switches 4| and 42 is notaffected by uneven piling up of the pull-forward cable 8 on the drum [3for the reason that the forward pull drum [3 must make an equal numberof rotations in a cable unwinding direction to operate the switch 4| asit made to operate the switch 42, notwithstanding the fact that thecable return drum l8 rotates a'greater number of times than does thedrum l3 in the event that cable piles up unevenly on the drum I3. Thisis a feature of my invention which overcomes a difficulty longexperienced in the art.

When it is desired to locate or relocate the tail sheave In in the carto a point of greater distance with respect to the drum l8, it isnecessary for the operator to merely pull the sheave against the urgingforce of the low torque transfer coupling 22 of the pull back drum l8 tothe desired location where said tail sheave i again made fast. If thesheave H3 is to be relocated at a point nearer the shoveling machine,the low torque transfer coupling 22 of the pull back drum will causerotation of said drum l8 in a cable winding direction to immediatelytake up the slack in the cable 9. The relatively low torque of the lowtorque transfer coupling 22 of the drum l8 allows the operator torelocate the sheave [0 without uncoupling the cable 9 from the scoop orshovel I. The weight of the scoop 1 together with the torque of the lowtorque transfer coupling in the drum l3 will prevent the scoop 1 andcable 8 from moving, thereby permitting only the cable 9 to be However,a holding circuit 0 lengthened or shortened when relocating the tailsheave I0.

It will be appreciated that the low torque transfer couplings 22 tend torotate the drums l3 and i8 in a cable winding direction when said drumsare stationary, this tendency being even greater when either of saiddrums are rotating in a cable unwinding direction by reason of the factthat the difierential of speed of rotary movement between the blades 28and the vanes 21 is greater. It is this feature of the invention whichprevents overrunning of the unwinding drum when the scoop I has reachedeither limit of movement within the car 3 and consequent backlashing ofthe cable. It should also be obvious that when it is desired to stop theshoveling operation at any time or for any reason, it is merelynecessary that the operator open the master control switches 18 and 95.The invention further contemplates conventional safety switch means, notshown, for shutting off the motorized gear reducer 6| when the limitswitch 4! i moved a predetermined distance away from the switch 42whereby to prevent the scoop i from striking the tail sheave I0 duringits return movements. The several manually operated switches such as themaster control switche 18 and 95 and the starting and reset switch 15are preferably located conveniently to the operator and exterior of thecar 3 so that the operator need not enter the car except to initiallyplace or later reset the tail sheave l 0, or when using my novel machinesemi-automatically for cleaning up operations now to be described. Thisarrangement obviates the necessity of undue exposure of the operator tothe obnoxious influence of dust stirred up in the car during theunloading operation.

Adaptation to semi-automatic operation When it is desired to operate mynovel shoveling machine to clean up the relatively small quantity ofmaterial left in the car 3 from the automatic unloading thereof, themaster control switches 18 and 95 are left open and a master controlswitch IE5 is closed and a mechanically operated trip switch i'liiiutilized. The control switch H and the trip switch [06 are seriallyconnected in a circuit which includes part of the power lead .63, thelead "H, the contacts 72 and 13 of switch 42,, part of the lead 75, alead; I07, part of the lead ll between the time delay relay operatedswitch iii, the relay it, the lead 89, and part or" the power lead 6e,switches I05 and H36 being interposed in series in the lead I07. Aholding circuit for the relay [9 includes a. holding switch 198 which isinterposed in a lead H39 which shunts out the trip switch I06. Withreference to the diagram of Fig. 11, it will be seen that the solenoid40 which controls winding operation of the drum i8 is renderedinoperative during the emi-automatic operation of the machine due to theopen condition of the master control switches l8 and 95.

The trip switch I06 is contained within a housing Ill) mounted on thesupporting structure 6 and is provided with an operating shaft iii whichprojects laterally outwardly of the housing I I0 and to which is rigidlysecured a trip lever I I2. A trip dog i i3 is secured to the free end ofthe lever 1 12 for pivotal movements with respect thereto, as indicatedat H4. The trip dog H3 is provided with an abutment portion vI l5 thatengages a shoulder portion H6 on the lever iI-2 to limitswingingmovements of the dog l 13 with respect to the lever H2 in one direction.With refof the trip dog H3 causing it to move the trip 16 erence toFigs. 3 and 5 to 7, inclusive, it will be seen that the free end portionof the trip dog I I3 lies in the path of rotary travel of the extendedends of the pins 53 on the drum I 3. The trip switch I06 is normallyopen and remains open as long as the drum i3 is stationary with the pins53 thereof being out of engagement with the trip dog H3, or when thedrum I3 is rotating in a cable unwinding direction. As shown in Fig. 7,rotation of the drum l3 in a cable unwinding direction will cause thepins 53 to engage the trip dog I I3 and swing the same with respect tothe trip lever 2 without affectingthe trip switch I05. However, when thedrum i3 is rotating in a, .cable winding direction, the pins ,53 willengage the opposite side lever H2 in a direction to close the tripswitch IE5 thereby energizing the relay Ill .and causing energization ofthe solenoid 40 to efiiect enga ement of the clutch 23 associated withthe winding drum l3.

Semi-automatie operation As above indicated, when it is desired toutilize my novel shoveling machine in a semi-automatic condition forcleaning up the grain remaining in the car 3, the master controlswitches 18 and are opened and the master control switch I05 closed. Thereturn cable Ii! is then disconnected from the scoop 1 and together withthe tail sheave NJ is removed from the car and permitted to wind up onthe drum is, the end thereof being made fast to any suitable location toprevent the drum Ill from spinning idly under influence of the lowtorque transfer coupling associated therewith. l he operator thenre-enters the car 3, and grasping the scoop by the handles normallyprovided thereon, pulls the scoop manually toward the end of the car 3against the tendency of the low torque transfer coupling associated withthe pull fiorwa-rd drum I3, the unwinding olirection of rotation of thedrum 13 having no effect upon the trip switch me except to causerelativemovement between the trip dog I i3 and the trip lever H2. When the scoophas been manually brought to the end of the car '3, the operator movesthe scoop slightly in the direction of the shoveling machine whereuponthe low torque transfer coupling :22 associated with the winding drum I3will cause said drum E3 to rotate in a cable winding direction to takeup the slack in the cable .8. Rotation of the drum 13 in gable windingdirection and for a very short distance'will bring one of the pins 53into em 1 easement with the trip dog H3 and move the same in a directionto close the trip switch Hi5 whereby the relay l9 isenergized, .in turncausing ene-rgizat-iori of the solenoid is and conseengae fiment of theelements of the high torque transfer coupling 23 associated with thewinding drum [3. The winding drum l3 then pull-s the scoop l forwardlyunder guidance of the operator until the scoop i has reached the dooropening i, whereupon the switch operating member .46 will engage theoperating arm .45 of the switch 4.2 and cause said high torque transfercoupling 23 to uncouple the drum 53 from high torque engagement with thedrive shaft Hi. The operator then draws the scoop toward the end of thecar '3 and the cycle is repeated until the car is clean.

In Fig. l, I have shown a pair of my novel shoveling machines beingcoupled together in tandem relationslhip and being driven from thesingle motor it". With this arrangement, a single operator can set upone machine to automatically unload one end of car 3 while the othermachine is being set up to unload the other end portion of the car.ihen, while the second half of the car is being automatically unloaded,the operator can quickly and easily adapt the first machine tosemi-automatic operation and clean out one half of the car, after whichthe second half may be cleaned by changing over the other shovelingmachine to semi-automatic operation. I have found that by utilizing mynovel machine in this manner, a car can be emptied of grain by a singleoperator in at least the same time that it has heretofore taken two orthree men with prior art machines. Both halves of the car may beautomatically unloaded simultaneously, and in the event that twooperators are available, each machine may be used semi-automatically toclean up both ends of the car simultaneously, each operator manipulatinga different shovel for the cleaning up operation.

The modified form of control, shown in Figs. 9 and 10, is designed to beused as a substitute for the motorized gear reducer BI, so that theoperator may manually and remotely control the extent of return movementof the scoop I. The control comprises a casing II! from which extends aflexible cable or the like II8 having at its free end a coupling head 1IS which is adapted to be connected to a coupling element I20 on thefree end of the adjustment screw 58 which extends outwardly of thecasing 43. The flexible shaft H8 is encased within a tubular casing I21and is connected at its end contained within the casing II! to a gearI22 journalled in a frame I23 suitably mounted in the casing Ill. Thegear I22 has meshing engagement with a gear I24 mounted on a shaft I25which is journalled in the frame I23 and one end of which extendsoutwardly of the casing I I1. A hand crank or the like I26 is rigidlysecured to the outwardly extended end of the shaft I25, manipulation ofwhich will cause rotation of the adjusting screw 58 and resultantmovement of the switch II with respect to the switch 42. The inner endof the shaft I25 is provided with a worm I21 that has meshing engagementwith a worm wheel or gear I28 that is mounted fast on a shaft I29journalled in suitable bearings in the casing II'I. One end of the shaftI29 extends through the casing II! and has mounted thereon an indicatingpointer I30 which cooperates with suitable indicia on the adjacent outerwheel of the casing II! to indicate the extent of travel of the scoop Ibetween its set limits of movement. The flexible shaft I I8 may be ofsufficient length to permit mounting of the above described controllerin any convenient location, or the controller may be easily carriedabout by the operator in the vicinity of the shoveling machine.

My improved shoveling machine has been thoroughly tested and found to becompletely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives setforth; and, while I have shown and described a preferred embodiment anda single modification, it will be understood that the same is capable offurther modification and that such modification may be made that doesnot depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theclaims.

What I claim is: 1. In a device of the class described, a supconnectingsaid drive shaft to said winding drum, said power transmission mechanismincluding a low torque transfer coupling unit comprising relativelyrotary driving and driven elements the former of which is connected tothe drive shaft and the latter of which is connected to the drum, areleasable high torque transfer coupling unit connecting the drive shaftto the drum, an actuator for the high torque transfer coupling unitoperative to set and release the same, and control means for saidactuator responsive to low torque transfer coupling unit imparted rotarymovement of said drum in a cable winding direction to render saidactuator operative to set the high torque transfer coupling unit, saidcontrol means including mechanism responsive to predetermined rotationof said drum in a cable winding direction to release said high torquetransfer coupling unit.

2. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure, acontinuously operating constant speed drive shaft journalled in saidsupporting structure, a cable winding drum journalled on said driveshaft, power transmission mechanism connecting said drive shaft to saidwinding drum, said power transmission mechanism including a low torquetransfer coupling unit comprising relatively rotary driving and drivenelements the former of which is connected to the drive shaft and thelatter of which is connected to the drum, a releasable high torquetransfer coupling unit connecting the drive shaft to the drum, anactuator for the high torque transfer coupling unit operative to set andrelease the same, and control means for said actuator responsive to lowtorque transfer coupling unit imparted rotary movement of said drum in acable winding direction to render said actuator operative to set thehigh torque transfer coupling unit, said control means includingmechanism responsive to predetermined rotation of said drum in a cablewinding direction to release said high torque transfer coupling unit.

3. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure, a cablewinding drum journalled for rotation on the supporting structure,

a drive shaft, power transmission mechanism connecting said drive shaftto the winding drum, said power transmission mechanism including a lowtorque transfer coupling unit comprising relatively rotary driving anddriven elements the former of which is connected to the drive shaft andthe latter of which is connected to the drum, a releasable high torquetransfer coupling unit connecting the drive shaft to the drum, anelectrically operated actuator for setting and releasing the high torquetransfer coupling unit, a power circuit including said actuator, andcontrol means for said circuit including a switch responsive to lowtorque transfer coupling unit imparted rotary movement of said drum in acable winding direction to render said actuator operative to set thehigh torque transfer unit and a limit switch operative responsive topredetermined rotation of said drum in a cable winding direction torelease said high torque transfer coupling unit.

a. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure, a pair ofcable winding drums journalled for rotation on said supportingstructure, a drive shaft, power transmission mechanism connecting thedrive shaft to each of said winding drums, said power transmissionmechanism including a pair of low torque transfer coupling units oneeach associated with each of 13 said drums and each comprisingrelatively roe tary driving and driven elements the former of which isconnected to the shaft and the latter of which is connected to arespective drum, a pair of independent releasable high torque transfercoupling units each connecting the drive shaft to a different drum,actuators for said high torque transier coupling unitsindependently'operative to set and release the same, and control meansfor said actuators responsive to predetermined rotation of one of thedrums in a cable winding direction to release the high torque transfercoupling unit associated with said one of the drums and to set the hightorque transfer coupling units associated with the other of said drums,said control means being operative responsive to equal rotation of saidone of the drums in the opposite direction to release the high torquetransfer coupling unit associated with said other drum and to set thehigh torque transfer coupling unit for said one of the drums.

5. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure, acontinuously operating constant speed drive shaft journalled in saidsupporting structure, a pair of cable winding drums journalled on saiddrive shaft inaxially spaced relationship, power transmission mechanismindependently connecting the drive shaft to each of said winding drums,said power transmission mechanism including a pair of low torquetransfer coupling units one each associated with each of said drums andeach comprising relatively rotary driving and driven elements the formerof which is connected to the shaft and the latter of which is connectedto a respective drum, a pair of independent releasable high torquetransfer coupling units each connecting the drive shaft to a. differentdrum, an actuator for each high torque transfer coupling unitindependently operative to set and release the same, and control meansfor said actuators responsive to predetermined rotation of one of thedrums in a cable winding direction to release the high torque transfercoupling unit associated with said one of the drums and to set the hightorque transfer coupling units associated with the other of said drums,said control means being operative r sponsive to equal rotation of saidone of the drums in the opposite direction to release the high torquetransfer coupling unit associated with said other drum and to set thehigh torque transfer coupling unit for said one of the drums.

6. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure, a pair ofcable winding drums journalled for rotation on said supportingstructure, a drive shaft, power transmission mechanism connecting thedrive shaft to each of said winding drums, said power transmissionmechanism including a pair of low torque transfer coupling units oneeach associated with each of said drums and each comprising relativelyrotary driving and driven elements the former of which is connected tothe shaft and the latter of which is connected to a respective drum, apair of independent releasable high torque transfer coupling units eachconnecting the drive shaft to a different drum, an electrically operatedactuator for each high torque transfer coupling unit independentlyoperative to set and release the same, a power circuit including saidactuators, and control means for said circuit including switch mechanismresponsive to predetermined rotation of one of the drums in a cablewinding direction to cause one of the actuators to release the hightorque transfer coupling? unit associated with said one of the drums andto. cause the other of said actuators to set the high torque transfercoupling unit associatedwiththe other. of said drums, said switchmechanism being operative responsive to equal rotation of said one ofthe drums in the: opposite direction to cause the other of saidactuators to release the high torque transfer coupling unit associatedwith said other drum and to set the high torque transfer coupling unitfor said one of the drums.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 in "which said switch mechanismincludes a pair of spaced control switches and a switch actuatoroperatively associated with one of said drums and movable in oppositedirections between said control switches responsive to rotation of saidone of the drums in opposite direct'ionsto operate said controlswitches.

8. The structure defined in claim 6 in which said switch mechanismincludes a pair of spaced control switches and a switch actuatoroperatively associated with said drum and movable in opposite directionsbetween said control switches responsive to rotation of said one of thedrums in opposite directions to operate said control switches, and infurther combination with means mounting one of said control switches formovements toward and away from the other thereof, and mechanism forimparting said movements to said one of the switches whereby to increaseor decrease the extent of high torque coupled rotary movement of saiddrums.

9. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure, acontinuously operating constant speed drive shaft journalled in saidsupporting structure, a pair of cable winding drums journalled on saiddrive shaft in axially spaced relationship, power transmission mechanismindependently connecting the drive shaft to each of said winding drums,said power transmission mechanism including a pair of low torquetransfer coupling units one each associated with each of said drums andeach comprising relatively rotary driving and driven elements the formerof which is connected to the shaft and the latter of which is connectedto a respective drum, a pair of independent releasable high torquetransfer coupling units each connecting the drive shaft to a differentdrum, an electrically operated actuator for each high torque transfercoupling unit independently operative to set and release the same, apower circuit including said actuators, control means for said circuitincluding a pair of spaced control switches and a switch actuatoroperatively associated with one of said drums and movable in oppositedirections between said control switches responsive to rotation of saidone of the drums in opposite directions to operate said controlswitches, one of said control switches being operative to cause one ofthe coupling unit actuators to release the high torque transfer couplingunit associated with said one of the drums and to cause the other ofsaid coupling unit actuators to set the high torque transfer couplingunit associated with the other of said drums responsive to predeterminedrotation of said one of the drums in a cable winding direction, theother of said switches being operative to set the high torque transfercoupling unit associated with said one of the drums and to release thehigh torque transfer coupling unit associated with the other of saiddrums responsive to equal rotation of said one of the drums in theopposite direction, means mounting one of said control switches formovements toward and away from the other thereof, and mechanism forimparting said movements to said one of the switches to increase ordecrease the extent of high torque coupled rotary movement of saiddrums, said last mentioned mechanism comprising a lead screw coupled tosaid one of the switches and having threaded engagement with saidmovable switch, and power driven means for rotating said lead screw. I

10. The structure defined in claim 6 in which said switch mechanismincludes a pair of spaced control switches and a switch actuator, saidswitch actuator being operatively associated with said drum and movablein opposite directions between said control switches, and in furthercombination with means mounting one of said control switches formovements toward and away from the other thereof, and manually-operated16 means for imparting said movements to said one of the switcheswhereby to increase or decrease the extent of high torque coupled rotarymovement, the means for mounting said one of the control switchesincluding a lead screw, said manually-operated means comprising acontrol unit remote from said switch and a flexible shaft connectingsaid control unit to said lead screw.

MENTOR C. ADDICKS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

